MISS WORLD – BLAENAVON {NEW MUSIC FRIDAYS}

Four years ago in Hampshire, UK, three boys around the age of 15 formed the band BLAENAVON. Two years ago, they released their first EP, KOSO, which garnered some recognition of them as wunderkinds. Now, they’ve released their second EP, Miss World, with Transgressive and it’s unleashed a particular power, perhaps of language, that takes, submerges, drowns and rebirths. Maybe it has something to do with the three songs being about a “vampire love triangle.”

Blaenavon’s songs are quite enigmatic; they chase the art of poetry but at the same time yield to a good riff. A rooted sense of gloom fills the gaps between fragments of abstract images. And the voice of lead singer/guitarist Ben Gregory hurls each song to a denser height. Once you’re caught in it, there’s no coming down.

BLAENAVON is currently in the middle of their UK tour. In the coming months, they’ll be working on a full album with Arctic Monkeys’ producer Jim Abbiss. And next year they’ll tour again, hopefully internationally. As they told NME, “There’s nothing we like more than caressing tarmac with the wheels of our deluxe tour bus – and playing music.”